Luminous sign



LUMINOUS S IGN Filed April 13, 1928 5 Sheets-.Sheet 2 Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED. STATES.

WILLIAM H. LAKE, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

LU MINOUS SIGN.k

Application filed. April 13,

This invention relates to improvements in luminous signs and has particular reference to a portable movable sign for use in dark places.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a luminous sign whichl may be used as a program in moving picture houses which are usually so dark that a patron is prevented from reading'an ordinary printed program. `With the aid of the device ,the program may be referred to whendesired and the printed matter can' be distinctly read to the satisfaction ofthe user, and without annoyance to surroundingpatrons. The device will also ybe found useful by persons not familiar with the vlanguage lin which the captions of the moving picture are printed, as the sign strip may contain corresponding captions in their home language which may be followed asthe picture is shown, thus aidinga foreigner in intelligentlyfo'llowing the theme of the moving picture, which would otherwise be uninteresting. f

Jinother obj ect' of the'invention is to provide a'luminous sign which includes a cas-v ing having a window therein, a .windable stencil strip movablepast the window beneath which a movable luminous stripis arranged, the luminous strip being subjected to the action' of artificial light' to produce a'soft glow of light for reflection through the stencil strip as the stencil strip moves past the window opening where the stencil indicia may be visibly displayed in the dark.

Another object is the provisionof a com pact luminous signi which may be conveniently carried for'reference vpurposes in the dark, and in which the signk strips maybe easily changed when desired'.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel construcltion and combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features ofwhich are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which y Figure l is a perspective view of my improved luminous sign; j

Figure 2 is a horizontal' sectional view therethrough. Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure t is a similar viewl on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

1928;v Sierial No. 263,827.

removed and the top cover section swung to a partially open position.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view through a modified form of'my invention.

Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal sec-` tional view on the line 8--8 of Figure 7.

,Referring to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral 10 designatesthe preferredr embodiment of my invention illus trated inFigures l to 6 inclusive which includes an elongated box-like structure embodying anA inner rectangular frame l1, a bottomrsection 12 hinged to said frame as at 13, and a removable top cover section "14 having a window opening l5 therein closed by a transparent glass panel 16. Journalled in the frame areV spaced transverse rollers 17 and 1S about which an endless luminous strip 19 passes. The strip 19 is constructed of a paper body 2() having its outer face coated witlr a Vlayer of luminous paint 2l whichwhen subjected tothe action of light, will throw off a glow Vwhich remains for a reasonable period of time. VThe top lead of the luminous strip underlies the window, while the lower lead is subjected to fthe action ofartificial light from electric lamps 22 which receive their electric current .from a. dry cell battery 23 supported in a battery carrier 24 mounted on ythe frame l1. A switch 25 mounted onthe top cover section is arranged in circuit with the lamps and battery to control the lighting of the lam )'s when required. The Alamps being in alight chamber will act upon the luminous side of the lower lead ofthe luminous strip, and.

'sign strip passes over guide rollers29 in its passage from one wndingspool to another. rEhe signistrip 26 has stencil or cut-out openingy 30v therein which represents the sign indicia and through which the light glow from the luminous strip passesas the stencil llO indicia successively passes the window open-- ing, and which becomes clearly visible when read in the dark.

For the purpose of imparting simultaneous movement of the sign strip and luminous strip, I apply a removable crank handle 31 to one end of the spool 28 which is journalled in the frame 11 and serves vto support one end of the spool, whereupon the spool 28 containing a wound sign strip may be removed and another substituted therefor. However,'the top cover section is first removed and the bottom section 12 swung downward upon its hinge joint as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. The spool'28 has a gear 32 fixedly mounted thereon which meshes with an idler gear 33 'journalled on' one side of the frame, and which idler gear meshes with a gear 34 fixed to the spool 27. By turning the crank handle in one direction it will cause the sign strip to wind about the take-up spool 27 and unwind from the spool 28, whereupon opposite turning of the crank will rewindthe strip upon t-he removable spool 28. Each sign strip must have its free end threaded over the respective guide rollers and connected with the spool 27 which is similar in some respectsv to the threading of a film strip in a camera.

The luminous strip 19 is movable simultaneously with the sign strip by providing a gear 311 on the spool 27 which meshes with an idler gear 35 journalled on one side of the frame and which meshes with a gear 3G :[iXed to the roller 17. rIhe gear ratio between the driven parts is such that the luminous strip travels at the same rate of speed as the sign strip so that no rubbing will occur between the sign strip and the luminous strip which might tend to scratch or rub off the painted surface.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a spool containing a sign strip having suitable stencil indicia thereon may be inserted and threaded into the device, whereupon turning movement imparted to the crank will cause the signA strip to pass the window so that it may be visibly read in the dark, as the glow from the luminous strip passes therethrough. The light glow produced by the luminous strip is soft so that the stencil matter clearly stands out free of glare. Although certain uses to which the device may be put have been set forth, I do not care to restrict myself thereto as the principle may be embodied in display signs for advertising purposes if desired.

In Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, I have illustrated a modified forni of my invention in which similar reference characters refer to like parts hereinbefore described in the preferred form. In this embodiment, I dispense with the continuous movable luminous strip and stencil sign strip, and in lieu thereof, I employ a sign strip 26 windable'and unwindable upon the spools 27 and 28. One

of the surfaces of the strip contains theY indicia which is printed thereon with luminous paint 19. As the strip passes from one spool to the other, the luminous lettering is subjected to the light from the lamps 22 which causes them to glow and remain in such condition until they have been moved,v

past the window. The upper lead of the strip 26 supported upon a plate 35 disposed behind the window to prevent sagging of the same. rIhe principle is the same as in the preferred form, i. e. the subjecting.

of the luminous indicia to the action of artiticial'light and the successive movement of the indicia past a window. I

llihile I have described what I deem to bey the most desirable embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many of the details may be varied without in any way departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not limit myself to the exact details of construction herein set forth nor to anything less than the whole of my invention limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is 1. A device of the class described comprising` a easing having a window and a light chamber therein, a luminous strip movable 8. A device of the class described comprising a casing having a window and light chamber therein, an endless luminous strip disposed behind said window and movable through said light chamber, a pair of winding spools withinsaid casing, a stencil sign strip having it ends respectively connected to said spools, said strip overlying said luminous strip and movable past said window,

and means for imparting simultaneous movement to said luminous strip and said stencil sign strip.

4f. A device of the class described comprising a casing having a window therein, an endless luminous strip movably mounted within said casing behind said window, electric lamps within said. casing for effecting luminosity of said luminous strip, winding spools journalled within said casing, and a stencil sign strip disposed between said window and said luminous strip and windable on said spools. l

5. A device of the class described comnected to one of said spools, and gear means prising a casing having a Window therein, for imparting winding movements to said an endless luminous strip movably mounted spools and simultaneous movement to said Within said casing` behind said Window, elecluminous strip. l

5 tric lamps Within said casing for 'eilecting 6. In a sign, a travelling luminous strip 10 luminosity oi said luminous strip, Winding movable past a source of light, and a stencil spools journalled Within said casing, a stensign strip disposed over said luminous strip. cil sign strip disposed between said Window In testimony whereof I have aflixed my and said luminous strip and Windable on signature;

l0 said spools, a crank handle operatively con- W'ILLIAM II. LAKE. 

